In Memoriam: William Thomas Johnson Sr. (1835-1918)

 

William Thomas Johnson

Born:  December 27, 1835

Died:  May 21, 1918

Predeceased by Wives:

Annie Stager Jackson Johnson(m. 1857)

Jerusha Tennessee Read Johnson(m 1869)

Survivors:

Sons: 

Joshua Francis Johnson

William Thomas Johnson Jr.

Daughters: 

Manerva Tennessee "Tennie" Johnson Tarpley

Macon Johnson Joyce

Minnie Lou Johnson Joyce

Sources:

Baptist and Reflector, August 22, 1918, p 15. col 1; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obituary-for-w-t/205280999/ : accessed September 4, 2026), clip page for Obituary for W. T. Johnson.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24235287/william_thomas-johnson: accessed 4 Sep 2026), memorial page for William Thomas Johnson Sr. (25 Dec 1835–21 May 1918), Memorial ID 24235287, citing Johnson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

More on Elliott vs Williams

 I've found a little bit more about the James Elliott whose estate was mentioned in Thos A Elliott vs R M Williams file that I blogged about yesterday.  The Adeline Elliott mentioned is NOT a Ledbetter but a Bowman.  she and James are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Rutherford County, Tennessee and have a rather large gravestone.

I've also found a newspaper article at Newspapers(dot)com about a new Masonic Hall at Murfreesboro and it mentions, R D Read and some Elliotts. This is important because it is occurring around the same time period as the case and could provide a connection with my Wm Clifford Cook who was also a Mason.  I've yet to find the R. M. Williams who Elliott accuses hiding. Looks like Thos A Elliott may have been correct.   Again...more research needed. 

Source:  
"United States, War of 1812 Index to Pension Application Files, 1812-1910", Entry for James Elliott and Adaline Bowman; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939X-H7RD-M : accessed 3 March 2026), IGN 4596554, Image 384 of 953; Citing NARA microfilm publication M313. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7750265/james-elliott: accessed March 3, 2026), memorial page for James Elliott (1 Oct 1795–30 Oct 1836), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7750265, citing Evergreen Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, USA.

Republican Banner, September 17, 1874, Page 4. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/republican-banner-new-murfreesboro-mason/192568350/ : accessed March 3, 2026), clip page for New Murfreesboro Masonic Hall by user rmbeckman.

Dyer Co neighbors with Rutherford Co connections(TN)

Looking at a few of the families enumerated near Wm C Cook's 1840 Dyer Co TN entry I recognize surnames that have connections to Rutherford Co TN.  In 1840, Absalom Vickery(brother in law of Wm C Cook) and his family were the neighboring county of Lauderdale.  Wade H Carlton(another brother in law of Wm C Cook) and his family were in nearby Weakley Co. TN. It should also be noted that there appears to be some of the Rutherford, Williamson Co.-District 25 & Bedford Co. TN-District 10 folks living in the area near Wade H Carlton and family.  I believe our ancestors were a lot more mobile than we give them credit for being. 

Robert Henry Dyer(the namesake for Dyer Co) was in the War of 1812, Florida War and Natchez Expedition.  He also represented Bedford and Rutherford Counties in the General Assembly.

Henry Read-- a man by the same name and age group is in 1820 Rutherford Co TN.  I do not know if it's the same one.  In Nance's The History of Versailles, tenth district, and its people something very interesting in the section on the Read family which begins on page 194.  It says that Robert Read & Elizabeth Gentry Read's 8 children were born in Dyer Co TN where they had moved sometimes after 1817.[That area would have been Carroll Co. prior to 1823 when Dyer Co was formed] Elizabeth died in 1841 and Robert married Elvira Carson and the couple had 8 children together which were all born in Rutherford Co TN. This suggest that there is a connection between Rutherford County and Dyer County Read families but doesn't mention a Henry Read.  There may be more in the Eagleville history.

Hezekiah Gibson(age 50-60 in 1840) Married in 1817 Rutherford Co TN to Mary Ridgeway  In 1830 Rutherford Co TN

R A H McCorkle  (See link to previous post)McCorkle family was in Rutherford Co TN prior to Dyer Co and prior to that in Rowan & Iredell Co NC with connections to Gillespie and Brandon family.

Noah Putman (Wm C Cook's brother in law) is enumerated immediately after Wm C. Noah married Elizabeth Carlton daughter of Thomas Carlton and  Nancy Ann Wade.  

J B Harrison(b. 1800-1810) I believe this is John B Harrison brother of Rebecca Harrison(wife of Hiram Putman--brother of Elizabeth Putman Cook and Noah Putman.)